Azula was laying flat on her stomach on the madras she slept on, almost humming to herself as she was writing across a blank scroll.
"My." Noriko smiled as she walked in. "You seem happy."
"Today wasn't entirely horrible." Azula shrugged.
"What are you doing?" Noriko asked.
"Making a better version of Love among dragons." Azula informed. "The dragon empress was always a bit of a tool in the final act. So why can't she pick up a sword herself? She's a dragon too right?"
"You're… Re-writing it?" Noriko asked in a blink.
"I'm improving it." Azula stated.
Noriko tilted her head. "I don't think many people would even consider re-writing such an old and beloved tale as love among dragons." she commented.
"Clearly those people lack vision!" Azula stated and Noriko chuckled amused.
"Perhaps you're right." She said as she sat down on her knees next to Azula. "I might just be very sentimental. Even if I get to see it every year I have yet to grow tired of it." she said. "But perhaps, it would be nice to see a new interpretation." she said as her hands gently moved to Azulas hair and removed the ribbon for her allowing Azulas rich hair to fall down her shoulders and back. And then Noriko grabbed a hair brush to gently start brushing Azulas hair.
At first Azula blinked, but then she started to relax as she laid down allowing Noriko to keep brushing.
"Your hair really is incredible." Noriko smiled. "You need to remember to take good care of it."
"I got my mothers hair." Azula spoke without thinking and then she halted… So did Noriko.
"Your mother?" Noriko asked. "You said… She left."
Azula quieted and then she swallowed.
"I'm so sorry." Noriko said.
Azula shrugged. "I guess I can't really blame her." she said. "She was forced into an arranged marriage with my father. Then she got two children she never wanted in the first place. And finally she escaped."
"Still…. Leaving her own children behind." Noriko said. "I can't even imagine." she said.
Azula closed her eyes.
"It's okay if it's' hurts. It's not right." Noriko assured.
"Hurts?" Azula asked. "Yes I suppose It does. When I think of it there's an odd feeling in my chest. It doesn't feel nice."
"That's hurt Zara. And that's okay you feel hurt. You've been through a lot." Noriko said as she had finally finished with Azulas hair and put away the brush.
Azula squinted her eyes. "I don't like feeling this way." she said. "I want it to stop. How do I make it stop?" she asked.
"Well…." Noriko hesitated. "Today as you hung out with your new friends. When you worked on your play. You didn't feel quite as bad did you?" she asked.
"No.." Azula had to admit.
"So… Keep doing that." Noriko smiled. "Hang out with your friends. Do things you enjoy doing! Keep on living."
Azula rolled around so she faced Noriko. "And that's it?" she asked.
"That's it." Noriko replied amused.
"Hmmm." Azula frowned deeply. "That seems way to easy." she clicked with her tongue. "You do realize my play is going to blow your husbands play out of the water right?"
Noriko chuckled. "I'll look forward to see it then."
Azula frowned. "You're not taking me seriously."
"I am!" Noriko said. "Though. Maybe considering it'll be your first time putting up a play. It wont be entirely perfect."
Azula snorted. "I don't do imperfect! I only do flawless."
"My." Noriko blinked. "That sounds like an awful lot of pressure."
"It isn't for me." Azula stated.
Noriko frowned. "Then what happens… If what you do isn't perfect?"
"It wont be. I just have to make sure that it isn't!" Azula stated.
"Zara." Noriko sighed. "No one is perfect. And no one in the world should have to be! That's an impossible standard."
"It isn't for me." Azula stated.
"Zara… It's okay not to be perfect." Noriko said. "I like you the way you are. You are clever and passionate! You have fire in your soul. And that's wonderful."
Azula hissed as she turned her head away.
"No one is perfect Zara." Noriko insisted. "And who-ever told you that… They should be ashamed of themselves."
Azula hissed as she bit her lip, then quieted.
"Zara?" Noriko asked.
"It's because…. I wasn't perfect I ended up here." Azula said. "Everything went wrong. I wasn't perfect. I was given a simple mission. It was so simple… And I failed. It's my fault. It was my job to be perfect and do the mission to perfection." she hissed. "It's his fault. Stupid little Zuzu."
"Zara…" Noriko said. "Look. I'm sure you did everything you could. And worked really hard. Sometimes though. Even though you do everything right. And is indeed perfect. You still loose. That's just life."
"How does that make any sense?" Azula asked as she looked up. "That's not fair."
"No. It's not." Noriko said. "And neither is it to expect you to be perfect all the time." she said. "You don't have to do that here you know. You don't have to be perfect in my house."
"What do you want from me?" Azula asked. "Why am I here?" she asked.
"I just want one thing from you." Noriko said. "I want you to be happy." she said sincerely and Azulas eyes widened. Then Noriko leaned over and kissed Azula at the top of her hair before standing up. "Don't stay up to long." she said. "Tomorrow is another day. You'll have to work on your play." she cheered and finally left.
Azula couldn't help it, help but crumble together… Noriko… Mom… Noriko…
The two swam together in her mind. But they couldn't be! They didn't have the same face. It didn't make any sense!
Azula grabbed her head just as a voice from the past whispered.
"I love you Azula."
"Don't lie to me mom." Azula hissed. "You don't love me and you never did! You didn't even want me!"
"But I do love you Azula… I do."
"Shut up!" Azula hissed.
"Mom…" Kiyi was standing in the kitchen dragging her dolly after her. "Zara is talking to herself again."
Noriko sighed. "Kiyi. We talked about this. Just don't disturb her. You must leave her alone." she said as she sat down on her knee to get closer to her daughter.
"Things has been weird since she got here." Kiyi said.
"I'm sorry sweet heart. Please just… Be patient." Noriko asked. "Zara need our help and our patients."
"But why us?" Kiyi asked. "Does she have to live here."
"Yes. She does." Noriko said putting a hand on Kiyis face. "I can't explain it but…" she sighed. "I need you to be careful and just… Leave Zara alone. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone. This will be her home."
Wide-eyed Kiyi looked up at Noriko.
"Do you promise just to be nice to her?" Noriko asked.
"Yes." Kiyi finally replied.
"Thank you sweet heart." Noriko breathed as she leaned over and kissed Kiyi on the forehead. "I love you."
"I love you to mom." Kiyi said wrapping her tiny arms around Ursas neck.
Ursa swallowed as she wrapped her arms around Kiyi and lifted her up, then finally walked outside where Noren was sitting looking towards the stars. Since the living room right now also doubled for Zaras bedroom, he had taken to sit outside instead. In the warm summers of the fire nation, that wasn't really an issue at all.
"It sounds like you'll have some real competition this summer." Noriko smiled amused as she approached her husband.
Noren sighed deeply as he lowered his head.
"Noren?" Noriko asked.
Noren swallowed. "Noriko…" he looked up at her, then eyed Kiyi in her arms and he swallowed as he looked back at Noriko. "There's something I have to tell you." he said. "I should have told you the moment Ozai was defeated. His defeat it… It changes everything."
"Ozai?" Ursa asked. "What does Ozai have to do with us?" she asked.
"Dad?" Kiyi asked.
Noren reached out his hands towards Kiyi. Allowing Noriko to hand the child over so she could sit on Norens lap and he smiled down at the child.
Then Noriko pulled out a chair to sit next to Noren. "What is it then?" he asked.
Noren closed his eyes. Then he looked up. "You remember what I told you about Ursa and Ikem right?" he asked.
Noriko nodded.
"I wanted you to at least know the story. The parts I could tell at the time." Noren said. "But there's more too it than I told you." he inhaled a deep breath. "Ursa and Ikem… Two people who were born and grew up in this very town. They loved each other. So very much. They acted together in the theater and they were engaged to be married… They were happy. But then the Fire Lord, Azulon, came and took Ursa away to make her marry his son."
Noriko nodded. "All that you told me." she said.
"And then there's the rest." Noren said. "Ikem he… He was a brash young man. Angry and devastated he challenged the fire lord himself to get his love back. He would not remain quiet! So the fire lord send his men to kill Ikem. Just to keep him quiet… Ikem became a hunted man. He was to be killed on sight and thus he fled to the forgetful valley. He lived there… For a long time. If he ever showed his face again he would die. But then… In the valley he met a spirit. The mother of faces and she gave him a chance. She could change his face and give him a new life! … Ikem accepted. And thus he got a new face… able to start a new life. And he returned to the town. Now calling himself Noren."
Norikos eyes widened. "What?" she asked. "Are you saying that you're… Your name is Ikem?" she asked.
"There's more." Noren said holding up a hand, his eyes wet. "Please."
Noriko swallowed but then finally nodded her head.
"By the time Ikem had settled in his new life. Ursa had given birth to her first child… Prince Zuko. Two years after she would have a daughter. Princess Azula. And finally Ikem had to face the truth… It was to late. His love was gone." Noren said. "Or so he thought. Ten years went past from when Ikem had gotten his new face and then suddenly she returned to the town! She was there! Ursa! She was just as beautiful as the day she had left but… So sad."
Noriko was quiet.
"Ikem managed to talk to her, and tell her about his new face. Once Ursa realized it was him, she recognized him regardless of appearances and they re-united in a kiss… But their troubles weren't over." Noren said. "At night… Ursa was troubled by nightmares. Even in day time she would have terrors. Afraid of her husband now fire lord Ozai to come for her. She would weep for her children and beg to be taken back to them… But also realized. That if she ever sat a foot back at the capital. If she ever approached her children… She would be killed. She had been the one creating the poison that killed fire lord Azulon. And now Ozai was afraid she would do the same to him. And afraid that she would spill the secret about how he usurped the throne… So though he had at first let her go. He now send soldiers to finish the job. To kill her. She had officially been labeled a traitor of the fire nation."
Kiyis hands tightened around Norens shirt as she swallowed.
"There was only one way. If Ikem and Ursa were ever to live their happily ever after so… Ikem took Ursa to the forgetful valley. To meet the spirit. The mother of faces, who would offer her not just a new face… But to take away all those painful memories. And offer her a new life…. It pained Ursa. But she could not bear the pain anymore. So she took the offer, she accepted her new face. Left behind her memories. All so she could start a new life…"
Noren halted and then Noriko turned to him. Tears slowly falling down her face.
"Zara…. She's my daughter. Isn't she?" Noriko asked in a whisper.
"She's princess Azula of the fire nation." Noren said. "And yes… She's your daughter. And Fire Lord Zuko is your son."
"Oh Agni." Noriko covered her mouth. Tears falling down her face. "Oh… Agni." she squinted her eyes shut.
"Kiyi." Noren whispered as he held up his daughter. "I don't know how much you understood of that but… She's your big sister." he said. "That's why she's important. Do you understand?"
Wide-eyed Kiyi looked at Noren who looked back at her with wet eyes.
"I… I don't remember." Noriko held her head. "What kind of mother am I? To willingly give up my memories? That's horrible."
"Noriko… Ursa." Noren corrected himself. "The things you experienced at that palace. At that awful place. No one would want to remember that."
"But my children!" Noriko gasped.
"Whom you couldn't do anything for." Noren said. "And it was killing you on the inside. You were wasting away until you became nothing and I… I couldn't help you." he looked down. "I'm sorry." he said. "I... It was hard. You locked yourself in your room. You cried every single day and apologized for it. Your nightmares woke you up in the middle of the night making you scream. You grabbed my shirt and begged me to take you back to your children. I had to remind you that if you were seen anywhere near the capital you would be killed. And then what? How could that help your children? And then you broke down and it all started over again. You didn't eat... You barely slept and when you did you had nightmares. I was loosing you again and there was nothing I could do about it." he swallowed as tears formed in his eyes too. "I am so sorry. It's never what I wanted."
"It was me who chose to leave my memories behind right?" Noriko asked. "You never asked me to."
"No… I didn't. I couldn't." Noren said. "I thought maybe with a new face it would be safe for you to go see your children at least. Then the mother of faces offered to take your memories too and... You decided it would be safer for your children after all if you didn't come for them. As you knew you wouldn't be able to stop yourself if you kept remembering them." Then he sighed. "But… Even after you left your memories behind. You were never the same again." Noren admitted. "When we were young. You used to love standing on the stage! You would dance and sing." he smiled by the distant memory, then his smile faltered. "I haven't seen you do either since you returned."
"I…" Noriko whispered. "I always had this horrible feeling that… That if I made to big of a mess of myself. Someone would see me. And they would come and take me." she admitted. She shivered as she wrapped her arms around herself. "My nightmares. A shadow… Who pins me to a bed. And hurts my child."
"Mom." Kiyi asked and Noriko sniffed.
"It's okay Kiyi." Noren whispered and then he looked up. "I promised Azula to tell her the truth. She gave me three days. Tomorrow is that day. I promised to tell her. But I needed to tell you first."
"I… This is so much. I need to think." Noriko said as she held her head.
"Ursa." Noren tried.
"I'm going to bed." Noriko said as she stood up. "Make sure Kiyi brush's her teeth probably."
"Yes… Of course." Noren said as Noriko headed inside and Noren sighed.
"Dad?" Kiyi asked. "Are things okay."
"Yes it's…" Noren sighed. "This day had to come." he said. "Ones Ozai was defeated." he looked down.
Kiyi blinked. "My sister is a princess?" she asked.
"Yeah." Noren sighed.
"And my brother is the fire lord." Kiyi frowned deeply, her brain seemingly working at high capacity.
"Well… yes." Noren admitted.
"Woooooow." Kiyi wide-eyed looked up. "Can I be a princess to then?"
Noren chuckled. "You're already a princess in our eyes." he assured fondly padding her head.
"I wonder what my fire lord brother is like." Kiyi blinked. "Do you think he's mean?"
"Well if he's anything like your mother. No. He wouldn't be." Noren said. "I hope that's how it is." he sighed deeply.
"This is a lot to take in." Kiyi said. "I'm not an only child!"
"No." Noren smiled then stood up with the girl in his arms. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."
"Okay." Kiyi yawned deeply and Noren headed inside. Honestly anxious for what could possible come next.